You do not matter to the Universe. I know that is hard to hear. The more I learn and read, the more I realise it to be true. The Universe is so massive, our tiny brain’s can barely comprehend it. The world is so big, there are so many of us. There have been so many of us before this time. It’s such a scary thought that most of us to not even bother to think about it. We fill our life devoted to our goals and our ambitions. We focus on the tiny things so that it makes it harder for us to remember that we don’t matter. You are just one tiny human in a world full of them. You don’t make a difference to the Universe. I know what you’re thinking, Caitlin… all of the great people were just one tiny human! Yes, they were. Are you? Are you one of the greats who will change the entire Universe for your generation? Is it hard to admit to yourself that its probably a no? Every single person reading this will not change the world.

So what’s the point? How do you even go on living after realising this fact? What is there to strive for? Why am I here if I’m not going to make a difference? Am I going to be the change the world needs?

I don’t have those answers for you.

When you realise all these hard truths it can be hard to find something to hold on to. Some truth to bring meaning to your life. I get that. I get how it feels to not matter. I get how it feels to be small. I won’t make a difference to the Universe. In my tiny life, I won’t probably change the world.

What will I matter to?

Well… I matter to me. The life I lead will ultimately affect me. If I only get a few years on this planet, why not spend it happy? Why not try and find the most joy I could ever possibly imagine? The choices I make, effect me. You matter to you. Read that again. Hear it. Believe it. You matter. You need to do this for you. Look after yourself. Think about your future… What do you want? What makes you happy? You are important to you. If nothing else matters, you will always have yourself to count on.

You matter to your friends. I know it might not always feel like it, but they are relying on you. Your friend needs you when she’s broken up with her boyfriend again and you’re the only person she can vent to. You matter to your friend who always needs a lift. You matter to your friend who knows that no matter what, you will always be at her birthday party, even when everyone else isn’t.

You matter to your partner. He needs someone to talk to at the end of the day, and you know he won’t be bothered to reach out to anyone if you’re not home. You matter to him because of all the memories you have together, he only knows how to tell half the story to your friends, he needs you for the other half (you tell it better). You matter to him because he felt lost before you came along and you remind him of home, a feeling he hadn’t had in a long time. You matter to him because you make boring, mundane tasks exciting. You make him laugh when he’s trying to be mad. You matter when you’re stuck at the airport with nothing to do, and even though you’re both not talking, you are so grateful to have each other’s company. You matter because no matter how hard he tries… he just can’t make dinner the way you do.

You matter to your colleagues. You are a part of their every day. They truly love seeing your face every day, even if they don’t tell you. They worry about you if you’re running late. They ask you what you’re doing on the weekend and they actually care about your response. You matter to them because even though you would have never ever gotten along outside of work, somehow you have become very close to each other, almost like a second family. You matter to your work friends because you’re the only one who understands the work jokes. You’re the only one who truly listens when you vent about your boss. You make a standard work day mean something to them.

You matter to the bus driver, who wouldn’t have a job if you didn’t catch public transport every day. You matter to your mechanic, without you as a customer he wouldn’t be able to own his own business, and be able to work from home the days the kids are unwell. You matter to your beauty therapist, your appointment has made her fully booked for the day, she drives home thinking of how grateful she is to have her dream career. You matter to your hairdresser, she knows you are nervous about your new hair colour but she spends her time trying to make you feel comfortable, when your hair is finished she tells you that you look beautiful… she really means it.

You matter to your parents. You wouldn’t be alive without them. Since the second you were born, their whole life revolved around yours. You matter too much to them. Everything you do or say effects them in someway. Every day since you were born your mum has been worried about you. Her number one priority is and always will be your safety. Her life was made complete when you entered it. She couldn’t picture it any other way. You matter to your Dad. He doesn’t know how to express it like mum, but you do. You are the reason he gets out of bed every morning at the crack of dawn. The reason he works 50 hours a week. You’re the reason he’s constantly thinking of jokes to tell. You matter on his birthday, hearing you sing happy birthday makes his day every single year. You are the most important thing in your parents life. To the Universe you are small, to your parents you are the biggest thing they could ever imagine.

You matter to your grandparents, seeing their own baby have you has changed their life. It is a love like no other. Out of all the experiences of their entire life, you were the best part. They don’t show it in the same way as your parents, but they love you unconditionally. You could be anyone, do anything, and they would love you just the same.

You matter to your dog. He is so happy to see you. He is constantly looking for you. He is so glad when you come home, when you feed him, when you rub his belly. Your dog doesn’t know how big the Universe is, or how small you both are. You are his entire world. He isn’t worried about his future, all he cares about is being with you, and enjoying the moment.

You matter to your cat. She doesn’t know it, but her life would have been cut short if you hadn’t rescued her. She relies solely on you to keep her alive, with food, water and attention. You sometimes forget, but she loves you. She doesn’t show it. She cries when you leave the house. She feels safe when you are by her side.

You matter to the stranger you smiled at. To the stranger you had small talk with at the bus stop. To the boy you used to hang out with when you were young and dumb. You matter to the people who watch your Instagram stories every day, they aren’t criticising you, they enjoy your posts. You matter to the DJ who wouldn’t have a career if you hadn’t of bought the $20 ticket. You matter to everything you support, everything you’re passionate about, everything you’ve ever spent money on.

You keep the world moving forward. You add to the love of the world. You being alive brings light to the planet. Your actions and words get carried around the world, from one thing to another.

So… you don’t matter to the Universe. In the time that you are alive you won’t change the world.

However, you will change the world for the ones around you. You are the entire Universe for some. You matter.